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Ramsey sombrero photo sparks outcry, apology

U of L President James Ramsey is facing criticism for a photo in which he and other university staffers are depicted at a Halloween party wearing costumes with sombreros and stereotypical Mexican garb.

The University of Louisville apologized Thursday after President James Ramsey faced criticism for a photo in which he and other university staffers were depicted at a Halloween party wearing stereotypical Mexican costumes with sombreros, which a university spokesman said some had "considered offensive."

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University of Louisville President James Ramsey and his wife, Jane, hosted a stereotypical Halloween party.

The photo, showing Ramsey in a multi-colored poncho and sombrero alongside more than a dozen others, with some wearing fake mustaches, was published online by The Courier-Journal on Wednesday as part of a photo gallery for a story about a Highlands neighborhood mansion used by Ramsey for university events.

"We made a mistake and are very sorry," Kathleen Smith, chief of staff to the president, said in a statement, which noted her office had met with a top official of U of L's Office of Hispanic and Latino Initiatives and shared "our deep regret for the hurt this experience has caused."

University spokesman John Karman said the photo was taken during a party for Ramsey and some staff at the home. He said the university started getting complaints Thursday.

Olivia Krauth, the editor of the student newspaper The Louisville Cardinal, wrote Thursday that "if a fraternity threw a party with a Mexican theme and pictures of them in these outfits got out, they would be in huge trouble just like countless other Greek organizations across the country in the past few years. ... As the president of a university, I would expect more."

In 2012, for example, a Penn State sorority apologized for "portraying inappropriate and untrue stereotypes" following a Mexican-themed party that included similar garb.

Karman said he wasn't certain what university policy would be in such instances, adding that it would likely be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

As social media criticism grew, university officials released an apology Thursday evening, addressing it to "Hispanic/Latino Faculty, Staff and Students."

"We commit to a series of campus conversations with students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to further focus on diversity and racial equality issues underpinning the pluralistic society we all support. This event shows we have much more to learn about our community," Smith said.

"We pledge to continue to work together to promote an environment that values all people regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, country of origin, immigration status, sexual orientation or gender identity," she said, vowing to "institute immediate training on diversity and racial equality issues."

Sarah Nuñez, U of L's director of the Office of Hispanic and Latino Initiatives, said she hoped the incident would be a learning experience for the community. "We're human beings, we're not costumes," she said.

The photo was taken at Amelia Place, a mansion owned by the University of Louisville Foundation, for a story about the property. On Wednesday, the article said, "the Ramseys were there to hold a lunch for the president's U of L staff, and a reception for university athletic teams was planned in the evening. Jane Ramsey, who said she loves Halloween, handed out sombreros, fake mustaches and veils to more than a dozen people as they arrived."